Hello Zuidas — January-February 2018

COLUMN

Shapiro Backstage at Zuidas Corporate Events

Granted I’m just a comedian, but I do get

some lovely, candid snapshots of corporate

life in Zuidas - via the bizarrely revealing

rituals known as ‘Dutch corporate events.’

Let me take you on a mini tour. 

Brand identity. I spoke at the opening of

the Amsterdam Expat Center, which is now

known as IN Amsterdam. They wanted a

one-stop to streamline the expat process

and make ever ything simpler. So they had

their opening at a location that was not the

office. Then they changed their location.

Then they changed their name. Anyway, if

you can find them or identify them, they

really are ver y helpful.

Crowded in Amsterdam. I’ve spoken quite a

few times at Vrije Universiteit, which is privately

funded. (As opposed to University of Amsterdam,

which is comparatively not funded.) VU just

introduced a new space for their international

employees, called The Global Room. And that’s

how crowded it is in Amsterdam. People got

excited just to have a dedicated room. I told

them the VU is a bit like Hogwarts: it’s nice to

have a Room of Requirement.

Sustainability. I attended an opening

of a building called the most green and

sustainable building in the Netherlands.

Or at least Amsterdam. Or at least Zuidas.

Partly because they had a self-driving

floor cleaner. It was so sustainable that the

directions to the location were first By Car

and - at the bottom - Public Transport. In

fact, I’ve been to a lot of events that talk a lot

about sustainability and then ser ve veal for

lunch. They talk about sustainable fishing

and ser ve tuna. And there was an event

about eliminating unnecessar y packaging;

they gave out gift bags with 200-page photo

books, which we all recycled immediately. 

I’ve also officiated a political debate /

boxing match outside Station Zuid, and I’ve

inadvertently helped white guys in suits

cheat at a footrace. But that’s a stor y for

another time. 

Photography Davien Hulsman

Gregory Shapiro (b.1968) Comedian. American. Dutchman. And the voice of Trump

in the ‘Netherlands Second’ video from ‘Zondag Met Lubach.’ Shapiro came to Amsterdam

to work with Boom Chicago comedy theater and never left. Along the way he has hosted

‘Comedy Central News.’ He has written 2 books on Dutch culture, including How to Be

Dutch: the Quiz. As host of ‘United States of Europe,’ Shapiro offers a ‘Daily Show’ for the

EU. Making fun of Europe, the American way.

MEMBERS ONLY

SNEAK PREVIEW

Location MBO College Zuid

Date Monday 19 Februar y 2018

registration [email protected]

By Janke Dekker Producties

THEATER OP DE ZUIDAS

De edele kunst

van het schijt hebben

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